Wow Michelle, sounds like you all made the right decision regarding Christa’s travels. It’s hard enough to evacuate ahead of an impending storm — deciding to drive towards it is another matter all together.

I am glad you and your area were not heavily impacted by Sandy — and particularly that you and your family are safe! The images coming out of NJ and NYC are just terrible, and you’re right, you can only prepare for so many things and certain levels of damage. Our thoughts go out to everyone affected!

Thanks for sharing your story!

Our daughter Christa was due to drive back here to RI from Kentucky, leaving Saturday morning, and we really didn’t know what was best. All I could think of was the number of people who’d be on the road evacuating, and the winds that were already picking up, the snow threatening West Virginia (part of her route), and what would happen if she had car trouble along the way. Thankfully, she stayed put. Now we’re planning her route home, trying to account for multiple factors we hadn’t anticipated.

We’re grateful to have made it through Sandy just fine here in North Kingstown, RI, but neighbors all around us lost trees and power. Many in our little coastal state lost homes and businesses, but New Englanders are a hearty bunch, given to stoicism and survival in harsh conditions. It’s the devastating stories and images coming out of New Jersey that have me heartbroken. As Governor Christie said, NOTHING can prepare for that kind of devastation.

No doubt Carolyn. The memories are still strong. It was definitely one of the life events that left an indelible impression and impact.

I wrote about the immediate aftermath — martial law, darkness, destruction — to make a point, but you’re so right, immediately heroes emerged, and not just with extraordinary acts, but with small acts of community. Friends helping friends, neighbors helping neighbors, strangers helping strangers. We often do get to see the best of people in these dire situations.

You’re right Josh, I think a lot of people think bad things won’t happen or that help is only a phone call away. The problem is that the system, as modern and advanced as it is, is still subject to operational constraints. It can only handle a very limited number of situations at one time. Katrina should have been the wake up call for anyone who hasn’t had a personal experience with a storm. Help can be very slow in coming.

In the midst of death and destruction there are also stories of heroism. It’s funny how the worst of times often brings out the best in people.

Thanks for sharing these wonderful stories. Such an adventurous life!

I have been through the LA Riots (’92) and the Northridge quake (’94) and seen what happens when supply lines are completely disrupted and the shelves in the stores are stripped clean.

It is not a pleasant experience and while the riots didn’t have the same devastation as that caused by Mother Nature the Northridge quake certainly did.

If that sort of experience doesn’t wake you up and make you recognize the need to be prepared and to act appropriately for the situation I am not sure what will.

When you are given warning and know you can get out that is usually the smart thing to do, but people like to pretend bad things never happen so…

I appreciate it Tim. Sandy was a truly terrible storm. I hope that the recovery in the Northeast will be swift.

Hey Ralph, you know, it’s tough to make the decision to evacuate, especially in the typical hurricane scenario where you are not in the range of the storm surge and you are not sure if the hurricane is going to hit. If you have an active season here in Florida, you could be getting threatened multiple times a season, and you can’t run out of town at the least chance. As someone with a retail business, I also want to be around to protect the business in the aftermath. Most of the time, it’s a tough call. Sandy was different. It was so large and so definite in general path that some of those questions weren’t as unanswerable.

In the end, as you said, the best we can do is support those in need in these times.

I can only imagine what Hurricane Hugo was like and think myself lucky that we don’t have that kind of weather in the UK.

My thoughts go out to everyone who is in the path of Hurricane Sandy.

Thank you for sharing your story Adam.

There are many who have experienced the effects of a storm like that and many, many more that have not. Simply knowing the sheer force a storm like that can wield I am in awe of someone who would consider staying in its direct path. Like anything with such devastating effect the best that any of us can do is offer support to those that have to rebuild from the aftermath.